Elderly woman dies after Atascadero house fire

May 9, 2015

An 80-year-old woman died in the hospital Friday following an early morning house fire in Atascadero.

Firefighters responded to the fire at 4510 Rosita Avenue around 4:34 a.m. They found the Shirley Martin, a former Templeton High School teacher, unconscious and unresponsive outside the home, according to an Atascadero Fire Department news release.

Fire crews assisted the Martin, whom responders transported to Twin Cities Hospital. She later died of unknown causes.

Upon arriving at the blaze, firefighters requested additional help due to access difficulties and a large amount of heavy smoke. It took firefighters about 40 minutes to gain control of the fire.

The property was estimated to be worth $355,000. Fire officials say only $30,000 of property value was salvaged. Additionally, the fire destroyed about $50,000 of goods inside the home.

The fire started in the living room, but the cause has yet to be determined. An investigation is ongoing.

More than 22 firefighters responded to the fire. Cal Fire personnel and Paso Robles firefighters assisted the Atascadero Fire Department in fighting the blaze.